The Leyton Orient Chronicle
Market10 Aug 2026
Leyton Orient say no — this time
The offer from Gillingham for Charlie Wellens was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
An offer of $430.0K for Jake Garrett
Leyton Orient have gone to Blackburn Rovers with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Dom Ballard signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Dom Ballard and Leyton Orient agree another 5 years.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Leyton Orient
Alex Gilbert was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Words at Leyton Orient training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Dom Ballard is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Market10 Aug 2026
One of our own: Paul King joins the Leyton Orient first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Paul King is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Aug 2026
One of our own: Simon Mitchell joins the Leyton Orient first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Simon Mitchell is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Aug 2026
Henry Barnes steps up from the Leyton Orient academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Henry Barnes has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
Leyton Orient try to borrow John Kelly
Watford have been asked whether they would lend him. Loans are agreed quickly or not at all, and this one will be one or the other by the weekend.
In brief
- Squad Facundo Cabral is a square peg at Leyton Orient
- The dugout Dom Ballard knocks on the manager's door
- Looking ahead Will Forrester faces his old club